What Are Out-of-Pocket Expenses?

Out-of-pocket expenses are costs that an individual is responsible for paying that may or may not be reimbursed later. The term is most often used to describe an employee's work-related expenses that the company later reimburses. It also is used to indicate a health insurance policyholder's nonreimbursable share of medical expenses such as deductibles, copays, and coinsurance.

Understanding Out-of-Pocket Expenses

Employees often spend their own money on business-related expenses, especially if they travel on behalf of a company. These out-of-pocket expenses are typically reimbursed by the employer, using a company-approved process. Common examples of work-related out-of-pocket expenses include airfare, car rentals, taxis or ride-sharing fares, gas, tolls, parking, lodging, and meals, as well as work-related supplies and tools.

The term is also used in health insurance policies to refer to the portion of a medical cost that the insurance company doesn't cover. Out-of-pocket healthcare expenses include deductibles, copays, and coinsurance.

Health insurance plans have out-of-pocket maximums that are set by federal law. These are caps on the amount of money that a policyholder must spend each year on healthcare expenses. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires all group and individual plans to stay within annually updated guidelines for out-of-pocket maximums.

For 2022, the out-of-pocket limits are $8,700 for individual coverage and $17,400 for family coverage. For 2023, the out-of-pocket limits increase to $9,100 for an individual and $18,200 for a family. Plans can't have out-of-pocket maximums that exceed these limits, but many offer lower maximums.

Out-of-Pocket Maximums vs. Deductibles

In health insurance, the deductible is the amount you pay each year for covered costs before the insurance coverage kicks in. When the deductible is met, the policyholder "shares" the costs with the insurance plan through coinsurance. With an 80/20 plan, for example, the policyholder pays 20% of the cost while the plan picks up the remaining 80%. The amount you pay for coinsurance—as well as your copays and deductible—all count toward the out-of-pocket maximum for the year. When you reach your out-of-pocket maximum, the plan pays 100% of covered costs for the rest of the year.

Some plans have higher deductibles than others. Typically, the lower the premium you pay, the higher the deductible, and the higher the premium you pay, the lower the deductible.

High-Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs)

A high deductible health plan (HDHP) can save you money in the form of lower monthly premiums. You also may get a tax break on medical expenses through a health savings account (HSA).

According to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules, for the 2022 tax year, an HDHP is a health insurance plan with a deductible of at least $1,400 for an individual plan or at least $2,800 for a family plan. For 2023, the numbers rise to $1,500 for an individual plan and $3,000 for a family plan.

For 2022, out-of-pocket costs may not exceed $7,050 for an individual or $14,100 for a family. For 2023, the figures are $7,500 for an individual and $15,000 for a family.

An HDHP provides 100% coverage for preventive services from in-network providers before you meet your deductible.

For individuals who don’t anticipate many medical expenses for the upcoming year, it makes sense to minimize premiums and choose an HDHP, since you probably won't need enough healthcare to get past the high deductible. If you anticipate significant medical expenses, a plan with a lower deductible but a higher premium would be preferable so that the insurance reimbursement kicks in earlier. An HDHP allows the holder to contribute to an HSA. Policyholders in the 24% federal tax bracket who incur $3,000 in medical expenses can use an HSA to pay for them with pretax dollars.

HSAs have annual contribution limits as well:

For the 2022 tax year, the maximum allowable contribution is $3,650 for an individual plan or $7,300 for a family plan. People ages 55 and older can contribute an additional $1,000 a year.

For the 2023 tax year, the maximum allowable contribution is $3,850 for an individual plan or $7,750 for a family. The "catch-up" provision still applies.

Examples of Out-of-Pocket Expenses

Here's an example of work-related out-of-pocket expenses. Assume an employee has a meeting with a potential client. The employee spends $250 on airfare, $50 on Uber rides, $100 on a hotel, and $100 on meals—all charged to their own credit card. After the trip, the employee submits an expense report for $500 for their out-of-pocket expenses. The employer then issues a reimbursement check for $500 to the employee. One example of out-of-pocket health expenses is prescription medications. Many health insurance plans cover prescriptions, but the amount you pay depends on your deductible responsibilities. If you have not met your deductible amount, you will have to pay out of pocket for any prescription medications until you have. However, some health insurance plans allow generic drugs to be purchased at discounted rates regardless of whether the annual deductible has been met. Some medical plans have a combined medical and prescription deductible. Here's an example: Lisa has a $2,500 combined deductible. She has already paid $2,350 in out-of-pocket expenses toward her deductible and now needs to purchase $150 worth of prescription medicine. Lisa's out-of-pocket cost will be $150. However, her combined deductible will now be met for the year. When you have met your deductible, you may still have to pay an amount for each prescription. For example, a plan might state that you must pay $10 for each refill of generic drugs or prescription medicine, meaning your out-of-pocket cost will be $10 for each prescription.

Other Types of Out-of-Pocket Expenses

In the real estate industry, out-of-pocket expenses refer to any expenses above and beyond the mortgage itself that the buyer incurs during the sale process. These costs vary depending on local property and real estate, but they typically include the cost of a home inspection, appraisal fees, and escrow account deposits as well as closing costs, which can include loan origination fees, attorney fees, and property taxes.

Out-of-Pocket Expenses and Tax Returns

Some out-of-pocket expenses can be deducted from your personal income taxes. For example, income tax deductions are still available for expenses related to charitable donations and unreimbursed medical expenses.

Since the passage of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017, individuals can no longer deduct unreimbursed business expenses.

Though tax deductions don't represent a direct reimbursement, there is an ancillary benefit to them because claiming these expenses as a deduction can lower your tax burden for the year.

Moving and Relocation Expenses

Moving expenses, according to the IRS, are costs the taxpayer incurs as a result of relocating for a new job or transferring to a new location. However, the TCJA eliminated the deduction of moving expenses for tax years 2018 through 2025, except for members of the military on active duty who move as the result of a military order.

Active-duty members of the U.S. military can deduct moving expenses if they incurred them in response to a military order that requires a permanent change of station. The expenses that qualify include the cost of packing, crating, hauling, in-transit storage, and insurance.

If the government provides and pays for any of your moving or storage expenses, you should not claim these expenses as a deduction on your taxes.

The Bottom Line

When choosing a healthcare plan, it is wise to estimate what your healthcare costs may be each year before deciding on a low deductible-high premium or high deductible-low premium plan. Also consider that your healthcare needs will change as you age, when you have a family, and when your income changes. All these factors will affect how much coverage you need and what level of out-of-pocket costs you can afford.